The focus of this paper is describing how the contact angle of drops of liquid can be controlled and varied using an applied electrical potential. The drops could act as lenses and could be used an an optical switch which focuses/ defocuses light.

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The electrical potential used to control the contact angles is applied across a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold surface. The drops described in this paper are hexadecanethiol (HDT). When the gold was transparent, the drops acted as lenses for transmitting light. The liquid HDT drops resting on a gold surface and surrounded by aqueous electrolyte - act like lenses whose shape can be quickly, reproducibly and reversibly changed by applying a potential to the substrate supporting the drops.

Revision as of 00:29, 26 March 2012

Contents

Paper Details

Title: Control of the Shape of Liquid Lenses on a Modified Gold Surface Using as Applied Electrical Potential across a Self-Assembled Monolayer

Authors: C.B. Gorman, H.A. Biebuyck, G.M. Whitesides

Journal: Langmuir 11 (1995) pgs. 2242-2246

Introduction

The focus of this paper is describing how the contact angle of drops of liquid can be controlled and varied using an applied electrical potential. The drops could act as lenses and could be used an an optical switch which focuses/ defocuses light.

The electrical potential used to control the contact angles is applied across a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on a gold surface. The drops described in this paper are hexadecanethiol (HDT). When the gold was transparent, the drops acted as lenses for transmitting light. The liquid HDT drops resting on a gold surface and surrounded by aqueous electrolyte - act like lenses whose shape can be quickly, reproducibly and reversibly changed by applying a potential to the substrate supporting the drops.